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1 
M  iili: 

THE 

PROMETHEUS  BOUND 
OF  ^SCHYLUS 


THE 

PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

OF  AESCHYLUS 


TRANSLATED  BY 

MARION  CLYDE  WIER 

INSTRUCTOR  IN   RHETORIC,  UNIVERSITY  OF    MICHIGAN 


NEW  YORK 

THE  CENTURY  CO. 

1916 


Copyright,  1916,  by 
The  Century  Co. 


/M-^ 


/^•. 


TO  LYDIA  DORSEY  WIER 

A  little  souvenir  of  summer  days 

When  all  secure  from  summer's  ardent  rays 

We  mused  upon  the  shrill  cicala's  lyre 
Thrilling  the  drowsy  woodland  with  its  lays ; 

Or  turning  gazed  across  the  pulsing  bay 
Whereover  Phcebus  shook  the  fires  of  day, 

And  marked  the  merry  sails  go  on  agleam 
Down  to  the  world  that  far  beyond  us  lay. 

A  little  souvenir  of  summer  days, 

A  gleam  late  stolen  from  the  ancient  blaze ;  — 

If  for  an  hour  it  light  some  dim  heart-fane, 
Thou  art  the  inspiration,  thine  the  praise. 


\ 


STRUCTURE  OF  THE  PROMETHEUS 
BOUND 

Prologue 

I-  88  First  scene.  Kratos  and  Bla  enter  with 
Prometheus;  Hephaestus  follows  with 
his  tools. 
89-  126  Second  scene.  Prometheus  alone;  invo- 
cation of  nature.  The  ancients 
thought  that  such  an  invocation  pro- 
voked pity.  It  has  become  a  literary 
commonplace. 

Parodos 
128-  191     Prometheus  and  chorus.    Kommos.    Cho- 
rus enters  in  winged  chariot.     Motive 
stated  in  first  strophe. 

First  Episode 

192-  395 

192-  284     First  scene.    Prometheus  and  Coryphaeus. 

Prometheus      longs      for      sympathy. 

Chorus  sympathetic  and  curious.     The 


STRUCTURE 

exposition  of  the  situation  is  complete 
at  284. 
285-  395  Second  scene  of  the  first  episode.  Ocea- 
nus,  the  father  of  the  Oceanides,  enters 
on  winged  steed.  Beginning  of  the  ac- 
tion that  leads  to  the  catastrophe. 

First  Stasimon 
396-  435     "  Tears  from  the  depths  of  some  divine 
despair." 

Second  Episode 
436-  527     Prometheus    recounts   to    Coryphaeus   his 
kindness  to  gods  and  men  and  waxes 
bitter  at  his  plight. 

Second  Stasimon 
528-  566     Peace  w^ith  heaven;  peace  and  calm  on 
earth. 

Third  Episode 
567-  908     lo  and  Prometheus. 

Third  Stasimon 
909-  938     Calm  after  storm. 

Exodus 
939-1072 


STRUCTURE 

939-  975  First  scene.  Prometheus  and  Cory- 
phaeus ;  preparation  of  the  catastrophe. 

975-1072  Second  scene.  Prometheus  and  Hermes. 
Development  of  the  catastrophe. 

Catastrophe 

1073-1124     Prometheus     and     Hermes;     Coryphaeus 
sings  mesode. 


CHARACTERS 

Kratos  and  Bia 

Heph^stus 

Prometheus 

Chorus  of  Ocean  Nymphs 

OCEANUS 

lo,  THE  Daughter  of  Inachus 
Hermes 


INTRODUCTION 

I  am  told  that  there  is  not  much  to  be  said  for  trans- 
lations, particularly  for  Greek  translations.  To  schol- 
ars they  are  considered  superfluous,  while  to  the  rest 
of  us,  if  not  misleading,  certainly  a  source  of  frequent 
misunderstanding.  At  times  I  have  been  almost  con- 
vinced that  we  should  try  to  get  along  without  them. 
But  in  these  days  when  Greek  is  practically  relegated 
to  the  curriculum  of  antiquity  it  would  seem  that  a 
good  translation  might  prolong  to  some  degree  the 
memory  of  a  language  that  has  contributed  to  the 
world  so  generously  of  its  beauty  of  thought  and  form. 

I  have  a  friend,  however,  who  maintains  on  the  other 
hand  that  for  the  consummation  of  the  desuetude  of 
a  language  there  is  no  agent  more  potent  than  the 
translation.  He  insists  that  when  we  consider  the 
English  Bible  and  perceive  how  useless  that  great  trans- 
lation has  made  the  original,  we  have  reason  for  re- 
joicing in  the  thought  that  Greek  is  still  moribund 
only;  that  it  has  not  gone  down  to  death  for  the  very 
reason  that  in  its  own  case  no  such  translations  exist; 


INTRODUCTION 

that  should  they  be  forthcoming  they  would  give  at 
once  to  all  literarj'  study  of  Greek  originals  the  coup 
de  grace.  I  have  comforr  in  the  thought  that  there  is 
no  imminent  danger  of  such  a  death;  "  6  A(o(/)^o-tov  yap 
ou  TrecpvKe  ttw. 

As  for  this  translation,  I  was  impelled  to  make  it  by 
curiosity;  I  wanted  to  find  out  what  I  could  make 
iEschylus  sound  like  in  English.  I  chose  the  "  Prome- 
theus "  to  translate  because  to  me  it  was  the  most  in- 
teresting of  his  shorter  plays.  In  my  version  I  have 
kept  as  close  as  I  could  to  the  original,  endeavoring  to 
preserve  all  the  author's  ideas  in  their  true  literary  set- 
ting. And  I  have  made  special  effort  to  avoid  the 
careless  "  washing  away  "  of  the  metaphors  and  other 
figures  of  speech.  I  have  also  striven  to  avoid  intro- 
ducing figures  and  ideas  foreign  to  the  text.  To  the 
matter  of  emphasis  I  have  given  some  care,  following 
as  closely  as  possible  in  my  lines  the  important  word 
order  of  the  original,  particularly  where  this  seemed 
to  depart  from  the  normal  order. 

In  the  dialogue  I  have  employed  the  usual  English 
blank  verse.  For  the  choruses  I  had  hoped  to  develop 
a  form  that  would  closely  approximate  the  rhythms  of 
the  original ;  but  after  considerable  experimenting  I 
gave  up  the  design;  I  still  feel,  however,  that  most  of 


INTRODUCTION 

the  complicated  Greek  meters  and  rhythms  could  be 
reproduced  in  English  if  a  man  of  leisure  and  learning 
should  undertake  the  task  with  sufficient  diligence  and 
enthusiasm.  I  have  used  instead  the  conventional 
English  stanza  forms  that  seemed  to  me  best  to  re- 
produce and  maintain  the  mood  of  the  original.  The 
anapests  I  have  endeavored  to  reproduce  throughout, 
adding  rimes  *'  as  necessary  makeweights  for  the  im- 
perfections of  an  otherwise  inadequate  language." 

The  debt  of  many  English  writers  to  -^schylus  is 
well  known.  What  Shelley  thought  of  him  and  owed 
him  is  set  forth  to  some  extent  in  the  introduction  and 
text  of  his  "  Prometheus  Unbound."  Browning  used 
him  so  subtly  that  even  to-day  we  scarcely  realize  the 
extent  of  his  debt.  But  of  modern  writers  it  was 
Swinburne  who  borrowed  his  beliefs,  ideas,  and  ex- 
pressions with  most  consummate  daring.  No  i^schy- 
lean  thought  of  importance  has  escaped  a  gorgeous  set- 
ting in  some  one  or  other  of  his  poems.  Reference  to 
his  adaptations  from  the  "  Prometheus  "  will  be  found 
in  the  notes. 

I  feel  indebted  to  the  editions  of  Weclein,  Weil,  and 
Case,  and  am  very  grateful  to  Professors  John  G.  Win- 
ter, Fred  N.  Scott,  and  Carl  E.  Eggert  for  valuable 
criticism  and  suggestions. 


THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND  OF 
.ESCHYLUS 


THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 
OF  iESCHYLUS 

PROLOGUE 

[Enter  Cratos  and  BiA,  dragging  the  figure  of  Pro- 
metheus. Heph^STUS  with  his  tools  accompa- 
nies themJ\ 

Cratos 

Now  we  are  come  to  the  utmost  land  of  earth, 
The  Scythian  trail,  a  desert  void  of  men. 
Hephaestus,  thine  the  need  to  obey  commands 
The  Father  cast  upon  thee,  firm  to  fix  ^ 
On  high-based  crag  this  fool  that  stops  at  naught, 
In  riveless  bonds  of  adamantine  chains. 
For  thine  own  flower,  the  burning  gleam  of  fire  ^ 
Whose  bud  outblossoms  into  every  art, 
This  has  he  stolen  and  then  bestowed  on  man. 

3 


:;4;  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

Such  sifi  mUvSt  ke  to  the  gods  now  expiate 
To  learn  to  bear  content  the  rule  of  Zeus  ^ 
And  turn  him  from  his  mankind-loving  bent. 

HepH/^stus 

Cratos  and  Bia,  for  you  two  the  behest 
Of  Zeus  is  final ;  naught  stands  in  the  way. 
But  I  have  not  the  heart  a  kindred  god 
Perforce  to  bind  in  storm-besieged  ravine. 
But  I  must  get  me  daring  for  the  deed ; 
Light  honor  of  God's  word  weighs  down  the  heart. 

High-hearted  son  of  Themis  who  counsels  fair, 
Thy  pain  is  mine  that  I  with  bonds  secure 
Shall  nail  thee  unto  this  rock  remote  from  men 
Where  thou  shalt  hear  no  voice  nor  see  the  form 
Of  any  mortal;  stung  by  the  sunbeam's  glow 
Thy  skin  shall  lose  its  bloom;  thou  shalt  be  glad 
When  night  bedecked  in  stars  obscures  the  day 
Or  Helios  dissipates  the  frost  of  morn ; 
Forever  will  the  weight  of  woe  at  hand 
Wear  on  thee,  for  thy  savior  is  yet  unborn. 

Such  profit  for  thy  mankind-loving  bent. 
A  god,  nor  cowering  at  the  rage  of  gods, 


OF  AESCHYLUS 

Their  gift  to  man  thou  gavest  more  than  meet. 

Wherefore  now  guard  this  rock  of  no  delight, 

Upstanding,  sleepless,  bending  not  the  knee. 

Many  the  cries  and  groans  of  no  avail 

That  thou  shalt  utter!     For  the  heart  of  Zeus 

Is  difficult  to  reconcile  with  prayer. 

Yea,  wholly  ruthless  he  whose  rule  is  young. 

Cratos 

Well,  wherefore  lingering  pity  him  in  vain? 
Why  him  to  gods  most  hateful  hatest  not  thou, 
A  god  who  stole  from  thee  thy  prize  for  man? 

Heph^stus 
Kinship  is  strong  and  strong,  companionship. 

Cratos 

Agreed ;  but  heeding  not  the  sire's  command, — 
Is  not  the  dread  of  this  more  potent  still? 

Heph^stus 
Pitiless  ever  thou  and  fierce  of  heart. 

Cratos 

A  cure  for  him  comes  not  on  thy  lament; 
In  bootless  travail  labor  not  in  vain. 


6  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

Heph^stus 
O  curses  many  on  this  my  handicraft. 

Cratos 
Why  curse  thy  craft?     Of  all  these  present  woes, 
Plainly  to  speak,  thy  craft  is  no  wise  cause. 

Heph^stus 
Would  it  had  graced  at  least  another's  lot. 

Cratos 
All  things  are  hard  except  for  gods  to  rule. 

Heph^stus 
In  this  I  know  it  well,  and  have  no  answer. 

Cratos 
Well,  why  not  haste  to  cast  his  bonds  about  him 
Or  ever  the  sire  behold  thee  tarrying? 

Heph^stus 
Right  here  the  bonds  for  any  one  to  see. 

Cratos 
Cast  them  about  his  arms,  then  mightily 
Smite  with  thy  hammer;  nail  him  to  the  rocks. 

Heph/estus 
It  nears  its  close  nor  lags,  this  task  of  mine. 


OF  .ESCHYLUS 

Cratos 
Strike  harder,  faster  bind,  leave  nothing  loose; 
He  's  clever  to  find  from  hopeless  straits  a  way. 

Heph^stus 
This  arm  at  least  is  fixed  and  wnll  not  move. 

Cratos 

Now  pin  the  other  fast  that  he  may  learn, 

Wise  though  he  be,  he  's  witless  matched  with  Zeus. 

Heph^stus 
Save  him,  no  one  will  justly  censure  me. 

Cratos 
The  heartless  fang  of  adamantine  spike 
Mightily  drive  thou  straightway  through  his  breast. 

Heph^stus 
Ah  me,  Prometheus,  I  bewail  thy  woes. 

Cratos 
Dost  shrink  again,  bemoan  the  foes  of  Zeus? 
See  that  one  day  thou  pitiest  not  thyself. 

Heph^stus 
Thou  seest  a  sight  to  eyes  that  see  unsightly. 


8  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

Cratos 

I  see  but  one  obtaining  his  own  due. 

Strap  now  about  his  ribs  the  binding  bonds. 

Heph^stus 
Necessity  compels;  spare  sharp  commands. 

Cratos 
Nay  but  I  will  command ;  —  howl  on  to  boot ; 
Go  down  and  ring  by  force  his  legs  around. 

Heph^stus 
Well,  this  is  done,  and  that  right  speedily. 

Cratos 
Strike  strongly  now  the  fetters  sharp  and  keen ; 
For  stem  indeed  is  our  new  taskmaster. 

Heph^stus 
Thy  tongue  doth  utter  words  that  match  thy  mold. 

Cratos 

Be  thou  soft-hearted ;  for  my  temper  firm 
And  stubbornness  of  spirit,  no  reproach. 

Heph^stus 
The  bonds  are  on  his  limbs ;  come,  let  us  go. 


OF  iESCHYLUS  9 

Cratos 

Now  wanton  where  thou  art  and  from  the  gods 
Strip  honors  for  the  creatures  of  a  day.* 
What  of  thy  pain  can  mortal  man  abate? 
False  naming  thee  the  gods  Prometheus  called  ^ 
Who  hast  indeed  of  forethought  grievous  need 
To  win  thee  exit  from  this  keen  device. 

Prometheus 

[Alone.] 

O  divine  Ether  and  swift  w^inged  winds  ^ 

And  river  fountains,  Ocean's  countless  smiles, 

And  earth,  the  mother  of  all  things,  and  thou  orb 

Of  him,  the  all-beholding  sun,  I  call ; 

See  what,  a  god,  I  suffer  at  the  hands  of  gods. 

Behold  with  what  wickedness  ground  into  dust 

Through  the  oncoming  centuries  wrestle  I  must 

Down  the  myriad  years; 

Such,  such  is  the  bond  the  new  ruler  would  claim 

To  have  fashioned  against  me,  the  bondage  of  shame. 

And  the  stream  of  my  tears 

Must  flow  for  the  present  and  what  is  to  come, 

As  I  seek  where  the  fates  of  my  woes  hid  the  sum. 


lo  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

And  yet  what  am  I  ?  surely  I  foreknow 
All  that  the  future  holds,  nor  shall  one  ill 
Come  on  me  unforeseen ;  my  destined  lot 
As  lightly  must  I  suffer  as  I  may, 
Knowing  necessity  is  not  withstood. 
Yet  neither  can  I  silent  be  nor  speak 
Of  this  my  fortune;  for  because  I  gave 
To  man  a  boon  I  bear  this  yoke  of  need. 
For  I  am  he  who  sought  the  stolen  fount 
Of  fire  stored  in  a  fennel  stalk,  which  proved 
Teacher  of  arts  to  men,  a  great  resource. 
And  this  the  penalty  that  I  must  pay 
For  my  transgression,  chained  beneath  the  sky. 

Ah,  ah! 
What  sound,  what  scent  is  winged  to  me  unseen? 
God-sped  or  mortal  or  mingled  both  in  one? 
Has  witness  come  to  this  far  rock  remote 
To  view  my  toils  or  wills  he  what  instead  ? 
Ye  see  me  bound,  a  wretched  god  ill-starred,'' 
The  hated  of  Zeus,  yes,  the  hated  of  all 
The  deities,  many  as  range  in  his  hall, 
Through  my  over-much  fondness  for  mortals. 
Ah  me,  ah  me,  what  rustling,  say, 
Do  I  hear  hard  by  as  of  birds  of  prey? 


OF  .$:SCHYLUS  II 

Air  whirs  with  the  beat  quick-stirring  of  wings 
And  fearful  is  everything  round  me  that  springs. 

[Parados,  divided  between  Chorus  and  actor  (CoM- 
MATic).     Chorus  enter  in  a  winged  car.l  ^ 

Chorus 

O  fear  thee  naught,  this  is  a  friendly  choir 
That  on  our  wind-swift  oarage  lightly  vying 

Comes,  w^inning  scarce  the  sanction  of  our  sire ; 
The  breezes  keen  to  carry  sent  us  flying, 

The  echo  from  the  din  of  smiting  ire 

Pierced  through  the  cavern  hall  where  we  were  lying 

And  struck  from  me  my  grave-eyed  shame  afar, 

And  I  sped  barefoot  in  my  winged  car. 

Prometheus 
O  offspring  of  Tethys  whose  children  are  many, 

His  daughters  who  rolls  round  the  whole  of  the 
world 
In  a  stream  that  the  magic  of  sleep  has  not  furled, — ^ 
O  daughters  of  Ocean  your  father,  behold, — 
Regard  the  close  bonds  wherein  compassed  I  lie 
On  a  rock  jutting  up  from  its  gorge  to  the  sky 
Where  I  watch  for  what  no  one  would  envy  mine 
eye. 


12  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

Chorus 

I  see,  Prometheus,  and  a  fearful  cloud 
Tear-colored,  gushes  up  before  mine  eyes 

When  I  behold  thy  form,  how,  shackle-bowed 
High  up  in  adamantine  bonds  it  lies.^^ 

Under  the  pall  of  dim  Oblivion's  shroud 
Zeus  hides  the  wreck  of  older  dynasties ; 

New  rulers  lord  it  up  Olympus'  way, 

And  lawless  statutes,  newly  furbished,  sway. 

Prometheus 

If  under  earth  only  or  down  into  hell  ^^ 

Where  the  corpses  are  garnered  he  'd  cast  me  to  dwell 

Gripped  round  by  the  rings  of  my  harsh  clinging  chains, 

Where  no  man  nor  god  might  exult  in  my  pains !  ^- 

But  now  am  I  sport  of  the  wind  as  it  blows. 

While  my  sorrows  increase  in  the  joy  of  my  foes. 

Chorus 

Who  of  the  gods  can  be  so  hard  of  heart 
That  he  would  gladden  at  thy  foul  abuse  ? 

Who  does  not  feel  his  soul  indignant  start 
At  thy  affliction,  saving  only  Zeus? 

Bitter  and  stern,  he  holds  his  mind  apart. 


OF  iESCHYLUS  13 

Ouranos'  children  trampling  with  no  truce; 
Nor  till  he  's  sated  will  he  ever  cease 
Unless  one  seize  his  realm  and  w^in  release. 

Prometheus 

But  verily  me,  though  I  'm  bound  in  the  chain 
And  rankled  in  limbs  by  the  fronts  keen  pain, 
Shall  the  potentate  new  of  the  gods  sorely  need 
To  show  the  new  counsel  whereby  he  must  bleed 
And  be  reft  of  his  scepter  and  honor's  fair  meed. 
Then  me  not  at  all  with  his  honey-tongued  ways  ^^ 
That  gloze  the  grieved  soul  with  harmonious  phrase 
Shall  he  ever  win  o'er  that  I  '11  come  to  forget 
Or  cower  in  terror  or  cringe  at  his  threat 
And  reveal  him  this  secret,  before  he  sets  free 
My  limbs  from  the  shackles  that  eat  into  me 
And  then  to  atone  for  my  anguish  agree. 

Chorus 

Thou  art  right  bold  and  in  thy  bitter  throes 
Thou  yieldest  nothing;  far  too  free  of  tongue; 

My  heart  is  pierced  with  terror  at  thy  foes, 
For  into  such  a  gale  thy  bark  is  flung 

I  wonder  who  the  appointed  season  knows 


14  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

When  thou  mayest  beach  thy  ship  with  sails  loose- 
hung. 
The  son  of  Kronos'  mind  and  heart  are  such 
As  humble  word  or  prayer  may  never  touch. 

Prometheus 

I  know  it  is  hard,  that  he  setteth  apart 
The  workings  of  justice  to  please  his  own  heart; 
But  he  none  the  less  in  his  day  shall  wax  mild, 
When  his  peace  shall  be  broken,  his  rest  be  defiled; 
Then  willing  with  me  will  he  stand  reconciled ; 
His  deeply  pent  rage  shall  be  blasted  and  waste, 
And  in  friendship's  close  bonds  shall  we,  both  of  us 
haste. 


FIRST  EPISODE 
[Prometheus  and  Coryph^us.] 

Chorus 

Uncover  now  and  tell  us  all  thy  tale ; 
On  thee  accused  of  what  does  Zeus  lay  hold, 
Thus  using  thee  with  bitterness  and  shame? 
Tell  us,  if  from  the  telling  comes  no  harm. 

Prometheus 

Painful  to  me  even  to  speak  of  this. 

But  silence  too  is  pain ;  both  ways  unwelcome. 

When  first  the  gods  made  prelude  of  their  rage 
And  strife  within  their  midst  was  moved  to  stand, 
Some  fain  to  cast  out  Kronos  from  his  throne 
That  Zeus  might  thenceforth  reign ;  and  others  then 
Intent  that  Zeus  might  never  rule  the  gods ; 
Then  I,  devising  counsel  to  persuade 
For  best  the  Titans,  sons  of  Ouranos 
And  Chthon,  failed  utterly;  the  subtle  wiles 

15 


i6  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

They  set  at  naught  within  their  stubborn  hearts 

And  hoped  unmoiled  of  war  to  rule  by  might. 

But  unto  me  not  once  but  oft  my  mother 

Themis  and  Gaia,  one  being  of  many  names,^* 

Had  mention  made  of  destiny  foredoomed ; 

That  not  through  force  nor  ruthless  powder  of  hand 

But  by  their  craft  w^ould  the  mightier  win  and  rule. 

This  secret,  when  I  tried  to  tell  in  full, 

They  saw  not  worthy  of  the  least  regard. 

So  circumstanced,  it  better  seemed  to  me 

To  win  the  approval  of  my  mother's  mind 

And  willing  take  my  stand  by  willing  Zeus. 

Through  my  designs  the  gloomy  deep  abyss 

Of  Tartarus  the  ancient  Kronos  hides 

And  them  that  fought  beside  him ;  in  this  wise 

The  master  of  the  gods  by  me  advanced 

My  kindliness  with  evil  compensates. 

Somehow  inherent  lurks  in  the  heart  of  kings 

A  strange  disease,  to  hold  no  faith  in  friends. 

But  let  that  go ;  your  question,  what  the  charge 

Whereon  he  works  me  ill,  this  will  I  answer. 

As  speedily  as  he  had  taken  seat 
Upon  his  father's  throne  to  the  gods  straightway 


OF  iESCHYLUS  17 

Their  own  peculiar  honors  he  assigned, 

And  then  bethought  his  kingdom  to  arrange. 

For  man  long  wretched  made  he  no  provision, 

But  had  in  mind  to  sweep  the  race  from  sight 

And  then  create  another  all  anew. 

'Gainst  this  none  took  a  stand  save  me  alone; 

But  I  grew  bold ;  I  saved  the  race  of  man 

From  falling  rent  in  ruin  down  to  Hades. 

Wherefore  with  these  afflictions  am  I  bowed, 

Painful  to  suffer,  piteous  to  see. 

In  my  compassion  mortals  I  upheld, 

But  I  am  not  deemed  worthy  of  compassion, 

So  ruthlessly  in  harmony  I  'm  tuned, 

A  sight  that  looks  to  Zeus  in  condemnation. 

Chorus 
Of  iron  heart  and  fashioned  out  of  stone,^^ 
Who  has  no  share  in  these  thy  toils,  Prometheus, 
I  should  have  chosen  not  to  see  thy  plight, 
But  seeing  it,  I  take  to  heart  thy  pain. 

Prometheus 
Ah  me,  my  friends,  I  'm  piteous  to  behold. 

Chorus 
In  truth,  didst  thou  no  further  go  than  this? 


i8  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

Prometheus 
I  hid  from  men  foreknowledge  of  their  doom.^® 

Chorus 
Finding  what  drug  to  medicine  the  ill? 

Prometheus 
Blind  hope  I  planted  deep  within  their  hearts.^^ 

Chorus 
Great  blessing  this,  didst  thou  bestow  on  man. 

Prometheus 
And  more  than  this,  I  gave  them  also  fire. 

Chorus 
The  things  of  a  day  now  use  the  flame-bright  fire? 

Prometheus 
Wherefrom  they  too  shall  master  many  arts. 

Chorus 
On  such  a  charge  as  this  is  now  doth  Zeus  — 

Prometheus 
Abuse  me,  nor  a  respite  give  from  pain. 

Chorus 
Is  there  no  end  appointed  for  thy  toil  ? 


OF  iESCHYLUS  19 

Prometheus 
None  other  save  when  seems  It  good  to  him. 

Chorus 
How  seem  good  ?    What  the  hope  ?     Dost  thou  not  see 
That  thou  hast  sinned?     But  how,  no  joy  for  me 
To  mention  and  my  words  would  bring  thee  pain. 
But  let  this  go,  seek  thou  release  from  toll. 

Prometheus 

Easy  it  is  for  him  who  keeps  his  foot 
Outside  the  path  of  woe  to  advise,  to  warn 
Him  faring  ill;  this  knew  I  all  too  well. 
Willing,  willing  I  sinned,  I  '11  not  deny. 
In  helping  men  I  got  me  naught  but  trouble. 
But  never  I  thought  in  retribution  thus 
To  waste  away  upon  these  lofty  crags, 
My  lot  this  bare  Inhospitable  rock. 
So  do  not  grieve  for  this  my  present  plight ; 
Dismount  and  hear  the  fate  that  is  to  come. 
That  ye  may  learn  my  sufferings  entire. 
Give  heed,  give  heed  and  give  your  sympathy 
To  one  who  suffers ;  sorrow  roaming  wide 
Impartial  stops  and  stays  awhile  with  me, 
To  tarry  later  seated  close  by  thee. 


20  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

Chorus 

To  us,  Prometheus,  keen  listeners  all, 

In  the  throes  of  thy  sorrows  thou  raisedst  thy  call. 

And  now  with  light  foot  from  our  wind-driven  car 

And  the  ether  serene  and  the  bird-ways  afar 

To  this  rock-riddled  desert  we  straightway  draw  near; 

Thy  sorrows  and  toils  to  the  end  we  would  hear. 

[OCEANUS,  father  of  the  Oceanides,  enters,  mounted 
upon  a  winged  steed.  The  anaptssts  of  Oceanus 
accompany  the  descent  of  the  Chorus  from  their 
chariot  into  the  orchestra.  This  scene  and  the  sec- 
ond episode  form  the  second  act^  the  beginning  of 
the  action  which  leads  to  the  catastrophe^] 

Oceanus 

I  have  come  to  the  term  of  this  far-stretching  road, 
Prometheus,  I  Ve  come  to  thee ;  long  I  bestrode 
This  feather-swift  bird  unguided  of  rein. 
But  bent  by  my  will  hath  he  measured  the  main. 
With  thee  in  thy  fortunes  know  well  that  I  grieve; 
For  such  is  the  bond  that  our  kinship  w^ould  weave. 
But  apart  from  our  kinship,  there  is  no  other  friend 


OF  iESCHYLUS  21 

To  whom  greater  share  than  to  thee  I  'd  extend ; 
More  staunch  than  Oceanus  hast  thou  no  friend. 

Prometheus 

Ah  me,  the  marvel  of  it ;  hast  thou  come 

To  visit  me  and  look  upon  my  toils? 

How  didst  thou  dare  to  leave  thy  namesake  stream, 

Thy  cave  self-wrought,  rock-vaulted,  here  to  come 

Unto  this  dreary  land,  the  mother  of  iron  ? 

Verily  hast  thou  come  to  see  my  plight 

And  raise  indignant  voice  with  me  in  ills? 

Behold  a  sight;  the  very  friend  of  Zeus, 

Who  helped  establish  him  upon  his  throne, 

How  bowed  with  what  requital  at  his  hands. 

Oceanus 

I  see,  Prometheus,  and  I  have  in  mind 
To  urge  thee  for  the  best,  for  all  thy  wit. 
Know  thyself;  come,  fashion  anew  thy  ways; 
New  is  the  tyrant  now  who  rules  the  gods.^^ 
But  if  thou  wilt  thus  vent  rough,  whetted  words, 
Speedily,  though  he  sits  so  very  high, 
Zeus,  hearing  thee,  will  make  thy  present  horde 
Of  troubles  seem  the  merest  play  of  children. 


22  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

Come,  wretched  man,  the  rage  that  thou  hast  nursed, 

Cast  from  thee;  Seek  from  these  thy  pains  release. 

Old-fashioned,  perhaps,  the  word  I  speak  to  thee; 

Yet  such,  Prometheus,  comes  to  be  the  wage 

Of  him  whose  tongue  upvaunteth  overhigh. 

But  thou  art  not  yet  prostrate  nor  dost  yield 

To  present  ills,  but  seekest  rather  more. 

But  never,  if  thou  take  me  for  thy  guide, 

Wilt  thou  extend  thy  leg  unto  the  goad. 

Seeing  that  he  who  rules  is  a  rough  king 

And  monarch  sole  who  gives  account  to  none. 

Now  will  I  go  and  win  thee  from  these  bonds ; 

But  thou  be  silent,  not  in  speech  perverse ; 

For  knowest  thou  not,  who  art  exceeding  wise. 

The  penalty  that  plagues  an  idle  tongue  ?  ^^ 

Prometheus 

Happy  I  deem  thee,  being  free  from  blame. 
Though  thou  didst  share  and  dare  all  things  with  me; 
And  now  have  done,  nor  give  thee  any  care ; 
Never  wilt  thou  persuade  him ;  he  is  hard. 
But  peer  about,  lest  pain  beset  thy  path. 

OCEANUS 

Thy  nature  shows  thee  better  far  to  counsel 


OF  iESCHYLUS  23 

Thy  neighbor  than  thyself  ;J[  judge  by  deeds, 
Not  words;  restrain  me  not  upon  my  way. 
My  heart  is  certain  that  this  boon  on  me 
Zeus  will  bestow,  to  loose  thee  from  thy  toils. 

Prometheus 

For  this  I  thank  thee  and  will  never  cease ; 

Of  zeal  thou  hast  omitted  not  a  mite. 

But  labor  not;  in  vain  and  gaining  naught 

For  me  thou  'It  toil,  if  toil  be  in  thy  heart. 

But  calm  thyself  and  keep  thee  from  the  issue. 

For  I,  though  faring  ill,  would  not  for  this 

See  trouble  come  to  many;  surely  not. 

Even  my  brother  Atlas'  sorry  plight 

Wears  on  my  heart;  he  stands  in  the  w^st  remote, 

Upon  his  mighty  shoulders  bearing  up 

The  pillar  of  earth  and  heaven,  no  arm-delight. 

And  him,  earth-born,  that  haunts  Cillcian  caves, 

I  saw  with  eye  of  pity,  a  monster  dire ; 

The  raging  Typhon  of  a  hundred  heads 

By  might  laid  low,  who  stood  against  all  the  gods. 

From  horrid  jaws  hissing  his  terror  forth, 

While  from  his  eyes  he  flashed  a  piercing  flame 

As  he  perforce  the  realm  of  Zeus  would  storm. 


24  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

But  on  him  came  the  sleepless  shaft  of  Zeus, 

The  downward-swooping  thunder  breathing  fire, 

That  struck  from  him  his  tongue's  highmounting  boast ; 

For  smitten  through  his  very  soul  he  fell 

To  crumbling  ashes,  thunder-reft  of  might. 

And  now  his  corse,  a  bootless  thing  outstretched, 

Lies  still  beside  the  narrows  of  the  sea, 

Pressed  hard  beneath  the  weight  of  /Etna's  roots. 

But  seated  upon  the  very  topmost  crags 

Hephaestus  with  his  hammer  smites  his  ore, 

Whence  from  the  molten  mass  will  break  one  day 

Rivers  of  fire  to  glean  with  savage  jaws  "^ 

The  fair  Sicilian  fruitlands  on  the  plains. 

Such  is  the  wrath  Typhon  shall  send  upseething 

With  shafts  of  hot  insatiate  surge  of  fire. 

Though  with  his  thunder  Zeus  hath  made  him  dust. 

But  thou,  not  witless,  hast  no  need  of  me 

To  teach  thee ;  save  thee  by  thine  own  device ; 

And  I  my  present  fortune  still  must  bear 

Until  the  heart  of  Zeus  is  slaked  with  rage. 

OCEANUS 

Surely,  Prometheus,  surely  thou  knowest  this, 
A  temper  distraught  is  often  cured  by  words? 


OF  ^SCHYLUS  25 

Prometheus 
Aye,  if  betimes  one  soften  down  his  heart, 
Nor  check  perforce  the  rage  that  swells  wuthin. 

OCEANUS 

For  wise  foreknowledge  and  for  heart  that  dares 
What  penalty  seest  thou  waiting?     Tell  me  that. 

Prometheus 
Overmuch  trouble  and  senseless  stultitude.^^ 

OCEANUS 

Let  me  be  sick  of  this  disease  since  most 
It  profits  wisdom  to  appear  the  fool. 

Prometheus 
This  failing  will  appear  to  be  mine  ow^n. 

OCEANUS 

Plainly  back  home  thy  speech  would  send  me  straight. 

Prometheus 

Yes ;  win  disfavor  not  by  pity  for  me. 

OCEANUS 

With  him  who  now  sits  on  the  almighty  throne? 

Prometheus 
Of  him  beware  lest  he  be  vexed  in  heart. 


26  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

OCEANUS 

Prometheus,  thy  misfortune  teaches  me. 

Prometheus 
Away,  begone ;  cleave  to  thy  present  mind. 

OcEANUS 

Me  starting  on  my  way  thou  urgest  loud  ; 
The  smooth  wind-plain  my  swift  four-footed  bird 
Chafes  with  his  wings  and  doubtless  will  be  glad 
In  his  own  stall  at  home  to  bend  his  knee. 


FIRST  STASIMOxN 

Chorus 

I  mourn  thine  ills,  thy  lot  that  kills,  Prometheus; 

The  falling  drops  of  tears  that  rise 

Over  the  fountains  of  mine  eyes 

Distil  a  tender  stream  that  goes 

To  wet  the  cheek  wheredown  it  flows. 

For  thus  unenviably  Zeus 

Rules  with  the  laws  he  made  whose  use 

Shows  to  the  gods  of  ancient  days 

The  insolence  his  reign  displays. 

From  every  side  the  country  wide 

Has  shrieked  aloud; 
Raising  indignant  voice  it  cried 
That  the  ancient  honor  once  its  pride, 
Magnificent  and  mighty,  thine 
And  thine  own  kins',  has  fallen  supine. 
And  mortals,  they  that  stablished  dwell 

27 


28  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

In  homes  of  sacred  Asia,  tell 

Their  tale  of  long  lament;  thy  fate 

Has  touched  them  all  compassionate; 

And  they  that  dwell  in  Colchis'  land, 

Bold  virgins  who  in  battle  stand 

All  undismayed,  and  Scythian  host 

That  dwells  on  Earth's  most  distant  strand 

Afar  along  Malotis'  coast; 

Arabia's  Ares-grafted  flower 

Whose  citadel  stands  like  a  tower 

Rock-built,  with  Caucasus  hard  by; 

Whose  hosts  the  sharp-beaked  spearshafts  shower 

Amid  the  moil  and  shriek  and  cry; 

One  other  Titan  god  alone 
I  saw  beset  in  days  of  old; 
Subdued,  in  cruel  bondage  thrown, — 
Atlas,  exceeding  strong  to  hold 
Upon  his  back  the  vaulted  sky 
Whereunder  pleads  his  laboring  cry. 
And  roars  the  surge  accordant  woe 
Harmonious  to  the  deep's  lament; 


OF  i^SCHYLUS  29 

Dark  Hades  mutters  far  below, 
Over  thy  piteous  plight  Intent ; 
While  all  the  springs  of  rivers  pure 
Bewail  the  pain  thou  dost  endure. 

Prometheus 

Think  not  my  silence  stubborn-souled  or  proud ; 
With  anxious  care  I  eat  my  heart  away, 
Seeing  myself  so  smothered  In  my  shame. 

And  yet  their  honors  to  these  same  young  gods, 

What  other  than  myself  dispensed  them  all, 

From  first  to  last  ?     Of  this  I  hold  my  peace ; 

I  should  but  speak  to  you  who  clearly  know. 

But  hear  men's  woes, —  how  when   they  were   mere 

children 
I  made  them  thoughtful,  filled  their  minds  with  wit. 
I  do  not  speak  to  cast  reproach  on  man, 
Merely  to  show  goodwill  in  what  I  gave. 
At  first  they  seeing,  only  saw  In  vain ; 
And  hearing,  heard  not;  like  to  forms  of  dreams 
Through  a  long  life  confounding  everything. 
Nor  knew  they  brick-built  homes  that  front  the  sun 
Nor  any  craft  of  carpentry ;  but  dwelt 


30  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

Beneath  the  ground  like  emmets  swarming  thick 

In  caves  that  see  no  sunshine;  not  a  sign 

Was  theirs  of  winter  nor  of  blooming  spring 

Nor  fruitful  summer  that  was  fixed  and  firm. 

Intelligence  was  none  in  what  they  wrought 

Till  unto  them  I  showed  the  rising  stars 

And  wanings,  to  discernment  ever  dark. 

Nay  even  numbers,  chief  among  cunning  arts 

I  found  them,  marshalings  of  graven  signs, 

And  memory  of  all  things,  skilled  muse-mother. 

And  first  was  I  who  brought  the  beasts  to  yoke,^" 

Slaves  to  the  yoke  straps  and  the  harnessed  pack, 

That  they  might  bear  for  men  their  greatest  burdens. 

And  unto  the  chariot  I  brought  horses  fond 

Of  pulling  at  the  reins,  proud  wealth's  delight. 

And  I,  none  other,  fashioned  sea-borne  ships. 

The  sailors'  ocean  chariots  hempen-winged.^^ 

These  are  the  arts  that  I,  alas,  devised 
For  man,  but  for  myself  can  find  no  wile 
Whereby  to  win  release  from  present  pain. 

Chorus 
Thou  sufferest  shame;  thyself  distraught  in  mind, 


OF  yESCHYLUS  31 

Thou  wanderest  and  like  a  wretched  leech 
Fallen  on  sickness,  thou  hast  lost  thy  heart 
And  nothing  canst  thou  find  to  make  thee  whole. 

Prometheus 

Hearing  me  through  still  further  wilt  thou  marvel 

At  all  the  arts  and  means  that  I  devised, 

And  this  the  greatest;  if  a  man  fell  ill 

There  was  no  help  in  food  nor  drink  nor  ointment ; 

But  in  their  need  of  remedies  they  pined 

Until  I  showed  them  mixings  of  mild  simples 

Wherewith  they  grew  immune  from  all  disease. 

And  many  forms  of  prophecy  I  ordered,^* 

And  separated  first  from  dreams  of  night 

Those  destined  to  become  a  living  truth; 

And  omens  from  sounds,  of  understanding  hard, 

I  fitted  to  their  knowledge;  signs  foretold 

By  meetings  on  the  way,  and  lonely  flights  ^^ 

Of  solitary  birds  of  crooked  claws, — 

These  I  determined,  which  the  luckier  kind, 

Which  boded  ill,  the  way  of  life  in  each. 

The  enmities,  the  loves,  associations; 

The  smoothness  of  the  entrails  and  what  color 

They  must  possess  when  pleasing  most  the  gods, 


32  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

The  gall  and  liver's  streaked  shapeliness, 
The  limbs  enwrapt  in  fat  and  the  long  chine 
I  burned,  and  thus  I  blazed  the  way  for  man 
Into  an  art  whose  signs  art  hard  to  read ; 
I  opened  their  eyes  to  signs  that  lurk  in  flame, 
Erstwhile  too  dim  for  aught  significant. 
So  much  for  this ;  but  down  beneath  the  earth 
Resources  hidden  from  the  race  of  men, 
Bronze,  iron,  silver,  gold, —  who  can  declare 
That  he  before  me  hath  discovered  these? 
No  one,  I  know,  unless  he  boasts  in  vain. 
In  one  short  statement  learn  the  matter  entire, 
Man's  every  art  hath  from  Prometheus  sprung. 

Chorus 

Nay,  mortals  help  not  thou  unseasonably 
And  heedless  of  thine  own  self  evil-starred. 
For  I  am  of  good  hope  to  see  thee  freed 
From  bondage  and  in  strength  no  less  than  Zeus. 

Prometheus 

Not  thus  hath  Fate  who  bringeth  all  to  pass 
Decreed  that  this  be  done ;  but  bent  and  bowed 
By  sufferings  and  tortures  without  end 


OF  i^SCHYLUS  33 

Am  I  to  find  escape  from  these  my  bonds. 
Craft  is  far  weaker  than  necessity. 

Chorus 
Who  plies  the  rudder  of  necessity  ? 

Prometheus 
Fates  threefold  and  the  mindful  Erinyes. 

Chorus 
And  Zeus,  is  he  less  mighty  than  are  these? 

Prometheus 
Not  even  he  shall  refuge  find  from  doom. 

Chorus 
What  doom  for  Zeus,  except  to  reign  forever? 

Prometheus 
This  mayest  thou  learn  not;  urge  me  not  with  prayer. 

Chorus 
Surely  a  thing  exalted  dost  thou  veil. 

Prometheus 
Another  tale  bethink  thee  of,  for  this 


34  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

The  season  guards  with  silence ;  nay,  it  must 
Be  covered  away  with  care ;  for  keeping  this 
I  shall  escape  my  shackles  and  my  pain. 


SECOND  STASIMON 
Chorus 

Zeus,  that  orders  all  aright, 

Never  let  him  on  my  heart 

Set  antagonistic  might; 

Let  me  not  be  slow  to  start 

On  my  way  the  gods  to  praise 

Offering  on  the  quenchless  plain 

Hard  beside  old  Ocean's  ways 

Sacred  dues  of  oxen  slain; 

May  I  not  in  word  offend ; 

May  this  thought  through  life  extend, 

Fading  not  while  ages  end. 

Sweet  it  IS  with  hopes  loud  vaunted 
Through  a  life  that  reaches  long 
To  pursue  our  way  undaunted 
Cheering  heart  with  gladsome  song! 
But  I  tremble  at  the  sight 
Of  thee  in  labors  worn  and  wan ; 

35 


36  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

Zeus  in  reverence  holding  light 
Too  much  thou  dost  honor  man, 
Even  now  pursuing  still, 
Prometheus,  thine  own  stubborn  will. 

Thy  grace,  how  graceless  see,  O  friend,  I  pray; 

Whence  comes  the  help  that  makes  thy  pain  the  less? 
What  ward  is  thine  from  creatures  of  a  day? 

Hast  thou  not  seen  the  impotent  shiftlessness 
Dreamlike  and  stirring  little,  wherein  they 

Are  bound,  poor  blinded  race  in  dire  distress? 
In  no  wise  shall  the  plans  that  mortals  lay 
The  harmony  of  mighty  Zeus  gainsay. 

This  learned  I  when  I  first  beheld  the  sight, 
Prometheus,  of  thy  fatal,  deadly  plight. 
How  different  utterly  this  tune  to  me 

That  just  upon  my  ear  came  lightly  winging, 
And  the  sweet  bridal  song  I  raised  for  thee 

About  thy  bath  and  bed,  in  honor  singing 
Of  wedded  joys,  when  fair  Hesione 

Thou  camest  homeward  to  thy  chamber  bringing. 
Our  father*s  child,  winning  with  gifts  to  wed, 
To  be  thy  bride  and  share  thy  marriage  bed. 


THIRD  EPISODE 
[lo  and  Prometheus.] 

lo 

What  land,  what  race,  whom  say  that  I  see 
Fast  bitted  and  bridled  in  rock  — who  is  he 
Gripped  hard  by  the  blast,— 
In  atonement  for  what  art  thou  perishing  fast? 
And  where  upon  earth,  O  tell  me,  I  pray, 
Have  I,  hapless  of  maidens,  wandered  away, 

O!    O! 

Again  the  gadfly  stings  awake  my  woe; 
The  Argos-shade,  to  whom  thy  pangs  gave  binh,- 
Keephim  away,  O  Earth! 
The  herdsman  of  a  thousand  eyes  I  see. 
Onward  he  comes,  alas,  shrewd  glance  on  me 
Whom,  even  dead.  Earth  cannot  all  conceal, 
But  back  from  out  the  shades  his  footsteps  steal 
While  like  a  dog  he  hounds  me  through  the  lands 
And  drives  me  hungry  down  the  sea-beat  sands. 

37 


38  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

And  consonant  the  wax-bound  reed  is  droning, 

A  slumber-spell  upon  my  eyes  intoning; 

Ah  me,  the  toil!     O  whither  will  ye  lead. 

Ye  wanderings  that  naught  of  distance  heed? 

What  have  I  done,  O  Kronos-sprung, — 

Finding  me  sinning  in  what  hast  thou  flung 

On  my  neck  as  a  burden  the  yoke  of  despair? 

Me  frantic  with  fright 

That  the  stings  incite 

Me  away  utterly  must  thou  wear? 

Burn  me  with  fire,  cover  with  earth  or  dash 

Me  down  to  sea-born  things  to  nibble  and  gnash, 

And  grudge,  O  grudge  not  me, 

O  king,  my  prayers  to  thee; 

Enough  my  wanderings  that  no  distance  heed 

Have  worn  me ;  I  can  find  no  ways  that  lead 

From  my  afflictions  hard  upon  me  laid ; 

Hearest  the  voice  of  her,  the  horned  maid  ? 

Prometheus 

Surely  I  hear  the  gadfly-driven  maid. 
Daughter  of  Inachus,  who  inflamed  the  heart 
Of  Zeus  with  love  and,  hated  now  of  Hera, 
Is  tried  perforce  with  all  too  lengthy  running. 


OF  iESCHYLUS  39 

lo 
Whence  name  of  father  mine  thou  utterest, 
And  who  art  thou,  tell  me,  a  maid  unblest; 
Who  art  thou,  being  forlorn,  that  namest  aright 
Me  roaming  wretched  in  an  evil  plight, 
And  namest  too  the  godsent  ill 
That  wears  me  down,  goading  me  still 
With  stings  that  strike  me  frantic ;  woe ! 
In  hunger-pangs  of  leaps  I  furious  go, 
Through  others'  wild  resentment  thus  brought  low ; 
And  who  of  all  the  ill-starred  race  is  so 
Wretched  as  I  ? 
But  quickly  state 
The  woes  that  await 
Me  still  to  suffer ;  what  drug  to  try, 
What  healing  remedy,  prithee  tell. 
If  aught  of  this  thou  knowest  well ; 
Speak  it  aloud  till  it 's  clear  displayed 
To  the  evil-voyaging  hapless  maid. 

Prometheus 
I  will  speak  clearly  all  that  thou  w^ouldst  learn, 
Weaving  no  riddles,  but  in  language  plain 
Even  as  is  just  to  open  lips  to  friends. 
Thou  seest  Prometheus,  giver  of  fire  to  man. 


40  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

lo 
A  boon  for  man  in  common  showing  thyself, 
Wretched  Prometheus,  why  dost  thou  suffer  thus? 

Prometheus 
I  've  just  made  end  of  weeping  on  my  woes. 

lo 
Wilt  thou  not  grant  me  this,  the  boon  I  ask? 

Prometheus 
Say  what  thou  askest ;  all  shalt  thou  learn  from  me. 

lo 
Say  who  has  nailed  thee  up  within  the  gorge? 

Prometheus 
The  will  of  Zeus,  Hephaestus'  handicraft. 

lo 
Atonement  makest  thou  for  what  offense? 

Prometheus 
Making  this  clear  alone,  I  Ve  told  enough. 

To 
Added  to  this,  show  me  my  journey's  end. 
And  what  the  time  for  me  to  wander  still. 


OF  ^SCHYLUS  41 

Prometheus 
To  know  not  this  is  better  than  to  learn. 

lo 

Hide  not  thou  from  me  what  I  must  endure. 

Prometheus 
I  grudge  thee  not  a  giving  such  as  this. 

lo 

Then  why  delay  to  speak  me  now  the  whole? 

Prometheus 
No  ill  intent ;  I  dread  to  roil  thy  wits. 

lo 

Spare  me  not  more  than  I  w^ould  have  thee  spare. 

Prometheus 
Since  thou  art  eager  I  must  speak;  now  hear. 

Chorus 

Not  yet;  this  pleasure  also  grant  to  me; 
Come,  let  us  first  inquire  of  her  disease, 
She  telling  all  her  death-abounding  doom ; 
Her  future  fate  then  let  us  hear  from  thee. 


42  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

Prometheus 

lo,  it  is  thy  task  to  favor  these 
For  other  reasons,  and  because  they  are 
The  sisters  of  thy  father;  since  to  moan 
And  make  lament  where  one  may  win  a  tear 
From  those  who  listen  is  to  waste  time  well. 

lo 

I  know  not  how  your  will  to  disobey ; 
In  language  clear  the  sum  of  your  desire 
Ye  shall  obtain ;  yet  pains  me  even  the  telling 
My  god-sent  storm  of  ills,  the  blight  of  my  form, 
Whence  sped,  how  cleaving  unto  me  evil  starred. 
Ever  would  nightly  visions  haunting  oft 
My  maiden  chamber  greet  and  speak  me  fair 
In  pleasant  language ;  "  Maiden,  greatly  blest, 
Why  rest  a  maid  so  long,  since  thou  canst  make 
A  marriage  most  high  ?     Zeus  by  the  shaft  of  desire 
Shot  forth  of  thee  is  kindled,  and  he  longs 
The  Cyprian  rite  with  thee  to  share ;  O  child, 
Spurn  not  the  bed  of  Zeus,  but  get  thee  gone 
To  the  deep  mead  of  Lerna  unto  the  flocks 
And  ox-stalls  of  thy  sire,  that  the  eye  of  Zeus 
May  sate  itself  and  rest  from  its  desire." 


OF  i^SCHYLUS  43 

By  dreams  like  these  that  lasted  nights  entire 

Was  I  oppressed  unhappy  till  I  dared 

To  tell  my  sire  of  the  fear  that  roams  by  night. 

And  he  to  Pytho  and  Dodona-ward 

Sped  many  messengers  to  learn  whereby 

He  might  in  word  or  deed  make  glad  the  gods. 

But  they  returned  bringing  back  oracles 

Of  shifting  words  significant  of  naught, 

Hard  of  interpretation  once  when  spoken. 

At  last  a  straight  word  came  to  Inachus 

To  thrust  me  forth  from  home  and  fatherland 

To  range  at  will  the  utmost  bounds  of  earth. 

And  if  he  would  not,  thunder  fiery-eyed 

Would  come  from  Zeus  to  track  my  race  to  death. 

By  such  decrees  of  Loxias  convinced. 

He  drove  me  forth  and  locked  me  out  from  home 

Unwilling  he  as  I ;  but  him  compelled 

The  bit  of  Zeus  perforce  to  do  his  will. 

And  straight  my  form  and  wits  were  all  distraught ; 

Horned,  as  you  see ;  stung  by  the  sharp-lipped  fly 

With  frantic  bound  I  sought  Kerchneia's  stream 

Fresh-flowing,  and  I  rushed  toward  Lerna's  spring. 

The  herdsman  earthborn  Argus  with  his  wrath 

Unmixed  with  pity  following  close  behind 


44  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

With  endless  eyes  watching  me  step  by  step. 
But  him  an  unsuspected  sudden  doom 
Stripped  of  his  life,  while  I  by  the  gadfly  stung 
With  goad  divine  am  scourged  from  land  to  land. 
Thou  hearest  the  past;  if  thou  canst  tell  me  what 
My  future  woes  are,  signify,  nor  let 
Thy  pity  warm  my  heart  in  falsehood's  flame. 
For  words  fictitious  deem  I  doubly  foul. 

Chorus 
Woe,  woe,  alas,  alas,  forbear! 

I  never,  never  dreamed  that  words  so  strange 
Could  ever  come  to  strike  upon  the  ear ; 

Evil  of  sentience,  past  all  feelings'  range, 
The  suffering  and  sorrow  and  the  fear 

That  chill  my  soul  with  goad  whose  edges  change ; 
Alas  for  me,  for  me  alas,  O  fate ; 
I  shudder  as  I  look  on  lo's  state. 

Prometheus 
Early  you  groan  and  seem  as  one  afraid ; 
Forbear  until  you  learn  what  still  must  come. 

Chorus 
Speak ;  tell  us  all ;  to  those  who  bear  disease 
*T  is  sweet  to  know  the  pain  that  still  must  come. 


OF  i^SCHYLUS  45 

Prometheus 
Your  first  desire  you  won  with  labor  light 
On  my  part ;  for  you  first  would  hear  from  her 
Recital  of  her  wretchedness  that 's  past. 
The  rest  hear  now ;  what  sufferings  are  decreed 
For  the  poor  maid  at  Hera's  hands  to  bear. 
Thou  seed  of  Inachus,  lay  my  words  to  heart, 
To  learn  in  full  where  terminates  thy  road. 
First  turn  thee  toward  the  rising  of  the  sun 
And  travel  onward  o'er  the  unplowed  lands 
And  thou  shalt  reach  the  wandering  Scythians 
Who,  raised  aloft  on  cars  with  well-wrought  wheels. 
Live  out  their  lives  beneath  their  wattled  roofs, 
All  well  equipped  with  bows  that  shoot  afar. 
Whom  go  not  near,  but  following  close  the  shore, 
Sea-beaten  by  the  surge,  pass  from  the  land. 
And  on  thy  left  the  iron-workers  dwell, 
The  Chalybes,  against  whom  be  on  thy  guard ; 
Ungentle  they,  for  guests'  approach  unmeet. 
Thou  'It  reach  Hybristes  stream,  not  falsely  named, 
Which  cross  not  over,  for  to  cross  is  hard. 
Until  thou  reach  to  Caucasus  itself 
Of  mountains  highest,  where  the  river  pours 
In  might  from  out  between  its  very  brows. 


46  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

And  crossing  summits  neighbors  to  the  stars, 
Must  thou  perforce  the  southern  path  pursue 
Where  thou  shalt  come  to  the  hosts  of  Amazons 
Man-haters,  who  shall  one  day  make  their  home 
Themiscyra,  about  Thermodon  where 
A  rough  sea  frith  lies,  Salmydessia, 
Poor  hosts  to  sailors,  a  step-mother  to  ships. 
And  they  shall  start  thee  onward,  gladly  too. 
And  thou  shalt  come  to  the  isthmus  Cimmerian 
Hard    by    the    harbor    gates    that    give   straight    pas- 
sage, 
Which  thou  shalt  leave  in  hardihood  of  heart 
To  onward  journey  through  Maiotic  strait. 
Great  among  men  the  tale  shall  ever  be 
Of  this  thy  journeying;  Bosporus  shall  be  called 
After  thy  name ;  and  leaving  Europe's  plain 
Thou  shalt  arrive  upon  the  Asian  main. 
Do  ye  not  see  the  tyrant  of  the  gods 
In  everything  alike  is  violent? 
For  he,  a  god,  in  longing  for  this  maid 
On  her  a  mortal  cast  these  wanderings. 
Bitter  the  suitor,  maiden,  hast  thou  got 
For  marriage  rites  w^ith  thee;  the  tale  just  heard 
Consider  not  as  yet  within  the  prelude. 


OF  iESCHYLUS  47 

lo 

Ah  me,  alas,  ah  me. 

Chorus 
Alas,  alas. 

Prometheus 
Again  thou  criest  aloud  and  moanest  deep ; 
When  known  the  ills  to  come,  what  wilt  thou  do  ? 

Chorus 
Wilt  speak  of  what  remains  for  her  of  woe? 

Prometheus 
A  baneful  winter  sea  of  woe  unwearied. 

lo 

What  gain  is  mine  in  living,  why  at  once 
Did  I  not  fling  me  down  this  rugged  rock. 
That  plainward  falling  this  my  sum  of  ills 
I  had  escaped  ?  'T  were  better  once  for  all 
To  die  than  suffer  evil  all  one's  days. 

Prometheus 
With  sorry  grace  wouldst  thou  my  struggles  bear 
To  whom  no  death  at  all  is  ever  doomed. 
For  death  had  brought  release  from  suffering. 


48  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

But  now  is  set  no  end  for  these  my  woes 

Till  Zeus  down  from  the  tyrant's  seat  shall  fall. 

lo 

Will  the  time  come  when  Zeus  must  fall  from  rule  ? 

Prometheus 
Thou  wouldst  rejoice,  I  ween,  in  this  event? 

lo 

Why  not,  who  suffer  ills  because  of  Zeus  ? 

Prometheus 
That  this  is  so  now  is  thy  chance  to  learn. 

lo 

By  whom  shall  he  be  plucked  of  tyrant's  scepter? 

Prometheus 
By  his  own  empty-headed  counselings. 

lo 
How?     Tell  me,  if  the  telling  is  no  harm. 

Prometheus 
A  marriage  shall  he  make  at  last  to  rue. 

lo 

Divine  or  mortal?     Speak,  if  it  may  be  told. 


OF  iESCHYLUS  49 

Prometheus 
What  matter  who?     The  thing  must  not  be  told. 

lo 
'Tis  through  his  wife  that  he  is  to  fall  from  power? 

Prometheus 
A  son  she  'II  bear  superior  to  his  sire. 

lo 

For  him  is  no  escape  from  this  decree? 

Prometheus 
Verily  none,  save  I  from  bonds  be  freed. 

lo 

Who  is  to  loose  thee  against  the  will  of  Zeus  ? 

Prometheus 
Of  thine  own  offspring  he  must  needs  be  one. 

Id 

What  sayest?     Shall  child  of  mine  unbind  thy  chains? 

Prometheus 
Third  in  descent  and  ten  more  generations. 

lo 

No  longer  clear  to  see,  this  oracle. 


50  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

Prometheus 
And  seek  not  thou  to  learn  In  full  thy  pains. 

lo 

OfFer  me  not  a  boon  and  then  withhold  it. 

Prometheus 
Of  stories  twain  I  grant  thee  one  to  choose. 

lo 

What  are  they?     Say  and  grant  me  then  my  choice. 

Prometheus 
I  grant  it;  choose;  I  speak  thy  future  woes 
Or  tell  of  him  who  comes  to  set  me  free. 

Chorus 
Of  these,  deign  thou  to  tell  the  one  to  her, 
To  me  the  other ;  grudge  me  not  the  tale. 
Tell  unto  her  the  wandering  still  in  store ; 
To  me  thy  savior  tell  of;  this  I  crave. 

Prometheus 
Since  ye  are  eager  T  will  not  refuse 
To  tell  in  full  as  much  as  ye  desire. 
Thee  first,  lo,  thy  far-flung  trail  I  '11  show. 
Which  grave  on  memory  tablets  of  thy  soul. 


OF  iESCHYLUS  51 

When   thou  hast  crossed   the  stream,   the  mainland's 

term, 
Make  for  the  blazing  dawn  where  treads  the  sun, 
Crossing  the  breaking  seas  until  thou  come 
Unto  Cisthene's  plain  Gorgonian 
Where  Phorcis'  daughters  dwell,  three  ancient  maids 
Swan-shaped  and  gifted  with  one  common  eye 
And  one  sole  tooth,  whom  neither  the  radiant  sun 
Doth  ever  behold,  nor  the  moon  that  keeps  the  night. 
And  near  at  hand  their  winged  sisters  three, 
The  Gorgons,  tressed  with  serpents,  dire  to  men, 
Whereon  no  mortal  looks  and  breathes  again. 
Such  is  the  thing  I  warn  against ;  beware ! 
Another  hear,  a  sight  that  wakens  fear ; 
Beware  the  sharp-beaked  voiceless  hounds  of  Zeus, 
The  griffins,  and  one-eyed  Arimaspian  throng. 
Horsemen  that  dwell  about  the  stream  that  flow^s 
With  gold,  the  path  of  Pluton ;  draw  not  near. 
Unto  a  land  far  distant  shalt  thou  come 
A  dark  race  dwelling  near  the  sun's  own  springs, 
And  there  the  river  iEthiops  flows  along. 
Follow  his  banks  until  at  last  thou  reach 
A  cataract  whence  Bybline  mountains  down 
Nile  sends  his  sacred  pleasant  tasting  stream. 


52  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

This  shall  conduct  thee  to  the  delta  land 
Neilotis,  where  thy  distant  habitation, 
lo,  't  Is  doomed,  for  thee  and  thine  to  found. 
If  this  be  indistinct  in  aught,  obscure, 
Turn  to  it  once  again  and  clearly  learn ; 
Leisure  Is  mine,  even  more  than  I  could  wish. 

Chorus 

To  her  if  thou  hast  aught  untold  to  tell 

Or  anything  passed  over  in  the  telling. 

Of  this,  her  roaming  watched  by  many  a  death. 

Speak ;  or  if  thou  hast  spoken  all,  to  us 

Our  favor  grant ;  surely  thou  dost  remember. 

Prometheus 
Her  journey  to  the  end  in  full  she  's  heard ; 
But  still  to  show  she  has  not  heard  In  vain. 
What  she  ere  hither  coming  bore  I  '11  tell, 
Giving  it  as  a  witness  of  my  words. 
The  story  In  Its  fullness  I  pass  over, 
Beginning  at  the  close  of  her  roamlngs  hither. 

Now  when  thou  camest  unto  Molosslan  plains 
And  round  Dodona  of  the  lofty  ridge. 
Prophetic  seat  of  Zeus  Thesprotlan, 


OF  ^SCHYLUS  53 

And  marvel  past  belief,  the  talking  oaks, 

By  which  in  clear  and  no-wise  riddling  speech 

Wast  thou  addressed  as  the  glorious  bride  of  Zeus 

That  was  to  be  —  art  pleased  at  aught  of  this  ? 

Thence  driven  by  the  gadfly  thou  didst  speed 

The  seastrand  way  to  the  great  gulf  of  Rhea 

Whence  thou  in  backward  flight  art  tempest-tossed. 

And  through  all  time  to  come  that  nook  of  sea 

Know  clearly  shall  be  called  Ionian, 

Thy  path-memorial  unto  all  mankind. 

A  token  this  to  thee  of  mine  own  mind 

That  sees  more  clearly  than  the  light  reveals. 

The  rest  to  you  and  her  alike  I  tell, 

Reaching  of  former  tales  the  selfsame  track. 

There  is  a  city,  Canobus,  most  remote 

Of  earth,  beside  the  very  mouth  of  Nile; 

There  Zeus  at  last  will  make  thee  sane  of  mind, 

Stroke  thee  with  hand  that  frights  not,  merely  touching. 

A  namesake  of  the  scions  got  of  Zeus 

Then  shalt  thou  bear,  the  swarthy  Epaphus, 

And  he  shall  reap  the  whole  of  all  the  land 

That  Neilus  flowing  wide  pours  waters  on. 

Thence  fifth  in  generations  from  this  source 

Back  unto  Argos  will  reluctant  come 


54  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

A  tribe  of  fifty  children,  women  all, 

Fleeing  a  hateful  marriage  with  their  kin. 

But  they,  their  cousins,  passion  in  their  hearts, 

Hawks  left  of  doves  no  distance  far  behind. 

Shall  come,  a  wedlock  seeking  best  unsought. 

For  God  shall  grudge  the  favor  of  their  brides. 

Pelasgia  will  receive  them  when  their  kin 

!Are  Ares-slaughtered  under  a  woman-hand 

Bold  for  the  stroke  through  daring  that  wakes  at  night. 

For  every  wife  shall  rob  her  lord  of  life. 

Dipping  a  two-edged  sword  in  slaughter's  dye. 

Thus  on  mine  enemies  may  Cypris  come! 

But  one  desire  shall  overcome  and  blunt 

Her  will  that  she  slay  not  her  bedfellow. 

And  of  two  evils  will  she  choose  the  one 

That  bears  a  coward's  name,  not  stained  with  slaughter. 

In  Argos  she  will  bear  a  royal  race. 

A  lengthy  tale  to  tell  this  to  the  end ; 

But  seed  from  her  shall  flourish,  bold  of  heart, 

Famed  for  the  bow,  who  from  these  toils  of  mine 

Shall  set  me  free.     Such  was  the  prophecy 

Mine  ancient  mother,  Themis  the  Titan,  spoke. 

But  how  and  in  what  way  needs  much  of  time 

To  tell,  and  thou  in  learning  naught  wouldst  gain. 


OF  i^SCHYLUS  55 

lo 
O  away  and  away! 

Me  again  doth,  yea,  the  madness  astray 
In  my  soul  burn  hard  while  the  gadfly's  ire 
Though  forged  without  flame  stings  sharper  than  fire. 
While  my  heart  in  its  terror  kicks  hard  at  my  breast 
And  my  eyes  whirl  round  like  a  wheel  without  rest, 
And  out  of  my  running  in  frenzy  I  'm  rolled 
In  a  pitiless  blast  and  my  tongue  's  uncontrolled ; 
Confused  are  the  words  that  beat  without  aim 
On  the  surges  of  Ate  whose  hate  is  like  flame. 


THIRD  STASIMON 

Chorus  A 

Wise  was  he,  verily  wise, 

Who  pondered  first  in  heart  this  thought, 

Then  with  his  tongue  his  neighbors  taught 

That  for  a  man  to  seek  his  mate 

In  his  own  sphere  and  his  estate 

Is  best  in  every  guise. 

Not  those  with  riches  puffed  up  high 

Nor  those  whose  race  the  heralds  cry 

Should  any  man  who  earns  his  bread 

Be  fain  to  woo  nor  yearn  to  wed. 

Chorus  B 

Never,  O  never  may  you, 
O  blessed  Fates,  me  in  the  fold 
O  Zeus's  couch  reclined  behold. 
Never  may  I,  a  bride,  draw  nigh 
His  couch  with  any  god  to  lie 

56 


OF  ^SCHYLUS  57 


Of  all  that  roam  the  heavens  through. 
I  shudder  to  behold  the  maid, 
No  lover  of  her  lord,  dismayed, 
Crushed  by  the  burden  of  her  woes 
That  Here  sends  vrhere'er  she  goes. 

Chorus  C 

For  me  a  marriage  mated  near 
My  rank  and  station  brings  no  fear; 
But  never  from  the  greater  gods 
May  love,  who  ne'er  in  slumber  nods 
Sight  me  with  eye  that  none  may  flee. 

Warless  a  war  is  this, 
A  pass  wherethrough  no  passage  is. 
Ah  then,  what  w^ould  become  of  me  ? 
The  will  of  Zeus  I  cannot  see 
How  to  escape  and  scathless  be. 


EXODUS 

[Prometheus    and    Coryph^us.     Preparation    for 
the  Catastrophe.^ 

Prometheus 

But  mark,  I  say  that  Zeus,  though  bold  of  mind, 
Shall  prostrate  lie,  in  that  he  now  makes  ready 
To  consummate  a  marriage  that  shall  cast  him 
Down  from  the  Tyrant's  throne  out  into  the  dark, 
And  Kronos'  curse  will  then  be  all  fulfilled, 
Which  he  invoked,  fallen  from  his  ancient  rule. 
From  hardships  such  as  these  a  refuge  sure 
Can  no  god  clearly  indicate  save  me. 
This  know  I  and  the  way ;  therefore  content 
Let  him  sit,  brave  of  soul,  in  lofty  bolts 
Confident,  speeding  the  fireshafts  from  his  hands. 
Nowise  will  this  suffice  to  stay  for  him 
A  fall  disgraced  and  all  intolerable. 
Such  is  the  wrestler  he  with  his  own  hand 

58 


OF  i^SCHYLUS  59 

Fits  out  against  himself,  a  monster  mighty ; 
Who  then  will  find  a  flame  to  match  the  lightning 
And  far  outleap  the  thunder's  frightful  roar; 
And  the  sea-plague  that  makes  the  dry  land  quake, 
Poseidon's  trident  spear  he  'II  break  in  sunder 
And  stumbling  on  this  evil  he  will  learn 
The  difference  'twixt  sway  and  servitude. 

Chorus 
Thy  heart's  desire,  this  vauntest  thou  against  Zeus. 

Prometheus 
What  happen  will,  I  speak,  and  my  wish  besides. 

Chorus 
Must  we  expect  a  master  over  Zeus? 

Prometheus 
Pain  will  he  suffer  harder  to  bear  than  mine. 

Chorus 
How  art  thou  fearless,  vaunting  words  like  these  ? 

Prometheus 
What  shall  I  fear,  for  whom  is  due  no  death  ? 

Chorus 
A  task  on  thee  more  grievous  he  may  lay. 


6o  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

Prometheus 
This  let  him  do ;  all  things  have  I  foreseen. 

Chorus 
Who  reverence  Adrasteia  are  the  w^Ise. 

Prometheus 
Revere,  call  out,  fawn  ever  upon  the  king ; 
My  care  for  Zeus  is  something  less  than  naught. 
Let  him  do  w^hat  he  will ;  rule  his  brief  day, 
But  not  for  long  will  he  command  the  gods.  ■ 
But  lo,  I  see  the  messenger  of  Zeus, 
Lackey  of  him,  the  tyrant  newly  made ; 
Doubtless  he  comes  to  bring  a  message  new. 

[Prometheus    and    Hermes;    Development    of    the 
Catastrophe. 1 

Hermes 

To  thee,  the  wise  one,  essence  of  bitterness, 

Sinner  against  the  gods,  on  mortal  man 

Heaper  of  honors,  stealer  of  fire,  I  speak. 

The  father  bids  thee  declare  the  marriage  bond 

Thou  boastest  of,  wherethrough  he  falleth  from  might ; 

And  that  too  in  no  riddle-mannered  guise, 


OF  iESCHYLUS  6i 

But  lay  bare  each  detail ;  no  double  journey, 
Prometheus,  bring  upon  me,  for  thou  seest 
That  Zeus  is  by  thy  bearing  nowise  softened. 

Prometheus 

Big-mouthed,  forsooth,  with  insolence  run  over, 

Thy  speech,  as  fits  a  lackey  of  the  gods. 

New  is  the  power  you  newly  try,  you  dream 

To  dwell  in  griefless  towers;  but  from  these 

Two  tyrants  fallen  have  I  not  beheld? 

The  third  that  lords  it  now,  him  shall  I  see 

Most  shamefully  fallen  and  quickly ;  do  I  seem 

To  fear  and  cringe  before  the  new-made  gods? 

Far  am  I,  very  far,  from  aught  like  that. 

Stir  up  the  dust  back  over  the  road  thou  camest; 

Naught  wilt  thou  learn  whereof  thou  questionest  me. 

Hermes 

By  stubborn  ways  of  thine  in  other  days 
Didst  thou  define  thine  own  demesne  of  pain. 

Prometheus 

Thy  livery  for  the  ills  wherein  I  fare. 

Know  clearly,  I  would  never  once  exchange. 


62  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

Hermes 
Better,  I  ween,  thy  service  to  this  rock 
Than  mine  as  faithful  messenger  of  Zeus. 

Prometheus 
To  insult  the  insolent  is  only  fair. 

Hermes 
Thou  seemest  to  wax  dainty  In  thy  present  Ills. 

Prometheus 

I  ?     May  I  see  my  foes  wax  dainty  thus, 
And  thee  I  number  too  within  the  list. 

Hermes 
Me  dost  thou  blame  In  part  for  thy  distress? 

Prometheus 

In  language  plain  I  hate,  yea,  all  the  gods 
Who  faring  well  unjustly  work  me  ill. 

Hermes 
I  hear  thee  raging  with  no  slight  disease. 

Prometheus 
Disease  Is  mine  if  It  be  to  hate  my  foes. 


OF  iESCHYLUS  63 

Hermes 
Intolerable  thou  wouldst  be  if  faring  well. 

Prometheus 
Ah  me! 

Hermes 
This  word  at  least  Zeus  hath  no  knowledge  of. 

Prometheus 
Time  in  the  aging  teaches  everything. 

Hermes 
But  thou  hast  not  yet  learned  thy  part  of  wisdom. 

Prometheus 
Or  thee  a  lackey  I  'd  not  parley  with. 

Hermes 
It  seems  thou  'it  answer  naught  the  father  asks. 

Prometheus 
Owing  him  aught  I  'd  well  repay  the  favor. 

Hermes 
Thou  tauntest  me  as  though  I  were  a  child. 

Prometheus 
Thou  art  a  child  and  witless  somewhat  more, 


64  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

If  thou  dost  hope  from  me  a  thing  to  learn. 

There  is  no  shame  nor  any  device  whereby 

Zeus  shall  prevail  to  make  me  tell  this  thing 

Before  my  shameful  bonds  are  taken  away. 

Therefore  let  now  be  hurled  the  seething  flame 

With   white-winged   snow   and   thunder   beneath    the 

ground ; 
Let  him  confound  and  scatter  everything, 
But  naught  of  this  shall  bend  me  ever  to  tell 
By  whom  't  Is  doomed  that  he  be  cast  from  power. 

Hermes 
See  now  if  this  to  thee  appear  an  aid. 

Prometheus 
Long,  long  ago  this  thing  was  seen  and  planned. 

Hermes 
O  deep  In  folly,  dare  but  dare  in  time 
In  face  of  present  ills  to  think  aright. 

Prometheus 
Thou  urgest  me  vainly  as  one  would  urge  a  wave. 
Never  bethink  thee  that  in  heart  dismayed 
At  the  will  of  Zeus  I  shall  grow  woman-hearted 
And  cater  to  the  god  I  deeply  hate  , 


OF  ^SCHYLUS  65 

With  woman-aping  outstretchings  of  hands 

To  loose  me  from  these  bonds;  I  'm  far  from  that. 

Hermes 

I  seem  to  speak  in  vain  for  all  I  say ; 

Thou  'rt  melted  not  nor  softened  by  my  prayers ; 

But  champing  the  bit  even  as  a  new-yoked  steed, 

Thou  chafest  hard  and  fightest  against  the  reins. 

But  thou  art  fierce  in  impotent  device, 

For  stubbornness  to  one  that  counsels  ill 

Hath  in  itself  a  power  less  than  nothing. 

But  look,  if  my  words  heed  thou  not  at  all, 

What  storm  and  great  third  wave  of  ill  is  on  thee  ^® 

From  which  is  no  escape;  this  rugged  gorg-e 

The  father  first  with  thunderbolts  of  flame 

Will  rend  asunder  and  conceal  thy  form ; 

And  thee  an  arm  of  rock  shall  lift  on  high. 

And  length  of  days  when  thou  hast  brought  to  close, 

Back  shalt  thou  come  to  light,  and  the  winged  hound 

Of  Zeus,  the  blood-stained  eagle  furiously 

Shall  tear  and  feed  upon  thy  body's  tatters, 

Coming  unhid,  a  banqueter  all  day 

Upon  thy  black-gnawed  liver  feeding  full. 

Of  hardships  such  as  this  expect  no  end 


66  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

Till  from  the  gods  a  savior  shall  appear 
To  bear  thy  woes,  deigning  to  tread  the  dark 
Home  of  the  dead,  the  dusk  Tartarean  deep. 
Therefore  take  counsel,  for  in  nowise  feigned, 
This  boast  of  mine,  but  very  clearly  spoken. 
The  mouth  of  Zeus  knows  not  to  speak  a  lie. 
Its  every  word  shall  be  fulfilled ;  do  thou 
Look  carefully  and  heed  and  never  deem 
That  stubbornness  is  better  than  good  counsel. 

Chorus 

To  us  not  out  of  season  Hermes  seems 
To  speak ;  he  bids  thee  set  thy  scorn  aside 
And  seek  wise  counsel  profitable;  give  heed! 
'T  is  pity  the  wise  should  shoot  beside  the  mark. 


THE  CATASTROPHE 

Prometheus 

To  me  well  aware  of  the  message  he  brings 

He  hath  cried  him  aloud ;  but  in  suffering  the  stings 

Of  the  hatred  of  foes  I  am  little  disgraced ; 

So  now  at  me  here  let  the  bolt  be  hurled, 

Or  the  seething  flame  like  a  sharp  tress  curled ; 

In  the  roar  of  the  bolt  by  the  winds  embraced 

Let  Ether  rage  to  the  thunder  shock 

And  the  blast  of  the  tempest  the  wide  world  rock 

To  the  roots  and  caves  of  her  very  deep, 

And  the  ocean  surge  in  its  wild  rough  sweep 

Confound  the  stars  on  their  sky-set  ways. 

And  me  let  him  seize  and  aloft  upraise 

And  hurl  into  Tartarus  black  my  form 

Spun  round  on  the  eddies  of  Fate's  dark  storm 

But  me  to  the  dead  he  cannot  transform.^'' 

Hermes 
Ah  truly  is  this  but  to  listen,  to  hark 

67 


68  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

To  the  counsels  and  words  of  a  mind  that  is  dark. 

Is  his  prayer  aught  less  than  the  prayer  of  one 

Who  is  mad,  are  his  ravings  ever  done? 

But  you  at  least  vi^ho  groan  w^ith  his  v^^oe 

Speedily  out  of  this  region  go, 

Lest  your  mind  grow  vain  as  a  thing  distraught 

In  the  harsh  hard  roar  from  the  thunder  caught.^^ 

Chorus 

0  speak  once  again  in  a  different  strain 

To  somewhat  persuade  me;  intolerant,  vain, 

Is  the  word  thou  hast  swept  on  the  stream  of  thy 

speech ; 
How  darest  thou  me  to  play  coward  beseech  ? 
With  him  would  I  suffer  the  pangs  of  his  fate, 
For  lately  I  Ve  learned  every  traitor  to  hate. 
Disease  there  is  none 

1  loathe  with  the  loathing  I  feel  for  this  one. 

Hermes 

Well,  keep  ye  in  mind  what  I  now  foretell ; 
And  later  when  lashed  by  avengers  from  hell 
Blame  never  your  lot  nor  any  time  say 
That  Zeus  without  warning  cast  ills  in  your  way. 
Not  so ;  but  your  own  is  the  deed ;  you  know ; 


OF  iESCHYLUS  69 

Nor  sudden  the  step  nor  secret  the  blow 
Whereby  through  your  folly  you  win  Ate's  hate 
Tight  meshed  in  the  measureless  tangle  of  fate.^^ 

Pro:metheus 

And  now  comes  the  deed,  no  longer  the  word ; 

And  the  world  is  upstlrred 

And  the  bellow  of  thunder  below  me  is  heard, 

And  the  wreathings  of  lightning  gleam  bright  as  they 

fly, 

And  whirlwinds  roll  the  dust  up  to  the  sky. 
And  the  blasts  leap  high  of  each  wind  that  blows 
In  battle  array  like  the  bitterest  of  foes; 
While  Ether  with  Ocean  confusedly  flows. 
Such,  such  is  the  stroke  that  has  fallen  from  Zeus 
That  my  soul  unto  terror  prepares  to  reduce. 
O  mother  mine,  O  Ether  divine, 
Who  sendest  the  light  on  all  creatures  to  shine, 
Thou  seest  the  injustice,  the  shame  that  is  mine. 


\ 


NOTES 

Note   I.     "  Father "   seems  to  have  been   a   generally   ac- 
cepted epithet  of  Zeus.     We  find  him  so  styled  by  powers 
differing  as  far  in  degree  as  Cratos,  Hermes,  and  Hephaestus. 
Note  2.     Cf .  Swinburne,  *'  Athens  " : 
"  Him  who  culled  for  man  the  fruitful  bloom  of  fire." 
Note  3.     For    the    sentiment    cf.    Swinburne,    "  Atalanta," 
148: 
"  Yet  one  doth  well,  being  patient  of  the  gods  .  .  . 

Yea,  lest  they  smite  us  with  some  four-foot  plague." 
Note  4.     A  favorite  Greek  characterization  of  the  helpless- 
ness of  man.     Cf.  546  f.  and  Aristophanes,   "  Birds,"   685  f., 
thus  translated  by  Swinburne: 

*'  Come  on  then,  ye  dwellers  by  nature  in  darkness,  and  like 
to  the  leaves'  generations, 
That  are  little  of  might,  that  are  molded  of  mire,  unendur- 

ing  and  shadowlike  nations, 
Poor  plumeless  ephemerals,  comfortless  mortals,  as  visions 

of  shadows  fast  fleeing — " 
Note  5.     Characteristic  Greek  pun.  cf .  Swinburne,  "  Erech- 
theus,"  52-4: 

"Eumolpus;  nothing  sweet  in  ears  of  thine 
The  music  of  his  making;  nor  a  song 
Towards  hope  of  ours  auspicious." 
Note  6.     Swinburne,  ''Athens": 
*'  Scarce  the  cry  that  called  on   airy  heaven  and   all  swift 
winds  on  wing, 

71 


72  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

Wells  of  river  heads,  and  countless  laugh  of  waves  past 

reckoning, 
Earth   which   brought   forth   all,    and   the   orbed    sun    that 

looks  on  everything, —  " 
This  invocation   of  the  elements  is  very  frequent   in   an- 
cient   literature    and    has    become    a    modern    commonplace. 
Swinburne  again   in  his   "  Erechtheus,"   1647  ff.   imitates  the 
same  passage: 

"  hear  ye  too 
Earth  and  the  glory  of  heaven  and  winds  of  the  air, 
And  the  most  holy  heart  of  the  deep  sea, 
Late  wroth,  now  full  of  quiet,  hear,  thou  sun, 
Rolled  round  with  the  rolling  fire  of  the  upper  heaven 
And  all  the  stars  returning;  hills  and  streams, 
Springs  and  fresh  fountains,  day  that  seest  these  deeds, 
Night  that  shall  hide  not;" 
Cf.  Swinburne,  "Eve  of  Revolution": 
"And  thunder  and  laughter  and  lightning  of  the  sovereign 

sea." 
and  "Atalanta,"  34: 

"  And  fountain  heads  of  all  the  watered  world." 
"Aralanta,"  25; 

"  Let  earth  |  Laugh,  and  the  long  sea  — "     The  metaphor 
is  frequently  met   in   Greek   literature.     Cf. : 
"  Theognis,"  9  :        iyeWacrae  yala  TTeKwprj^ 

y^Orjcrev  de  ^aOvs  ttovtos  oKos  TroXt^s. 
"Iliad,"  19,  362:    TeXao-tre  bh  irdaa  irepl  x^wi/. 
"  H.  Cer.,"  14:  yala  be  irds  eyeXaaae. 

Cf.  Swinburne,  "  Erechtheus,"  i : 

"  Mother  of  life  and  death  and  all  men's  ways, 
Earth  — " 
Cf.  Soph.  Ph.  394;  Eurip.  Hipp.  597;  Horn.  Hymn  XXX,  1 
^s,  Cho.  127. 
Note  7.     The  punishment  of  Prometheus  is  in  the  open; 


OF  ^SCHYLUS  73 

this  arouses  his  bitter  resentment.     Cf.  97;   177;    195;  227; 
256;  438;   525. 

Note  8.     Swinburne,  "Athens,"  thus  refers  to  the  entrance 
of  this  chorus: 
"  Glows  a  glory  of  mild-winged  maidens  upward  mounting 

Sheer  through  air  made  shrill  with  stroke  on  smooth  swift 
wings, 

Round  the  rocks  beyond  foot's  reach,  past  eyesight's  count- 
ing, 

Up  the  cleft  where  iron  wind  of  winter  rings." 

The  Oceanides  are  the  daughters  of  Oceanus  and  Tethys. 
Hesiod  in  the  Theogony  states  that  their  number  is  three 
thousand. 

Note  9.     Cf.  Swinburne  "Atalanta": 

"  Lands  undiscoverable  in  the  unheard-of  west 
Round  which  the  strong  stream  of  a  sacred  sea 
Rolls   without  wind  forever." 

Note  10.     Cf.  Swinburne  "Athens": 

"Round  a  god  fast  clenched  in  iron  jaws  and  fetters." 

Note  II.  In  Sept.  860  the  dead  go  "Into  the  all-receiving 
and   unseen   landing-place." 

In  the  Supplices  the  chorus  threatens  to  appeal  to  "  The 
infernal  Zeus  of  the  dead,  the  most  ready  receiver  of  all 
who  come  to  him." 

Note  12.  The  wretched  shrink  from  the  exultation  of 
their  foes.  In  "Iliad,"  3,  51,  Hector  chides  his  brother  for 
bringing  Helen  to  be  "  a  sore  mischief  to  thy  father  and 
city  and  all  the  realm,  but  to  our  foes  a  rejoicing,  and  to 
thyself  a  hanging  of  the  head."  In  "Iliad,'''  6,  82,  ^neas 
and  Hector  are  urged  to  rally  the  Trojans  "ere  yet  they 
fall  fleeing  in  their  women's  arms,  and  be  made  a  rejoicing 
to  the  foe."  "Iliad,"  10,  193,  Nestor  urges  the  guard  to  keep 
good  watch  "  nor  let  sleep  take  any  man,  lest  we  become  a 


74  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

cause   of  rejoicing  to  them  that  hate  us."     ^s.  Per.   1034, 
Xerxes  speaks  of  his  sorrows  "the  joy  of  our  enemies." 

Note  13.     Cf.  Swinburne,  "Atalanta,"  576  — "  to  weave  sweet 
words  and  melt  Mutable  minds  of  wise  men  as  with  fire." 
Note  14.     Cf.  Swinburne,  "Athens": 
"  Earth  whose  name  was  also  righteousness,  a  mother 

Many  named  and  single  natured,  gave  him  birth." 
The  identification  of  Gaea  and  Themis. 
Note  15.  Iron  and  stone  designate  lack  of  feeling  and 
stubbornness.  Cf.  "  Iliad,"  16,  33,  where  Patroclus  says  to 
Achilles:  "  Peleus  was  not  thy  father,  nor  Thetis  thy  mother, 
but  the  gray  sea  bare  thee,  and  the  sheer  cliffs,  so  rough  is 
thy  spirit." 

Note  16.     Cf.  Plato,  Gorg.  523  d;  Horace,  Carm.  3,  29,  29; 
Prudens  futuri  temporis  exitum 
Caliginosa  nocte  premit  deus, 
Ridetque   si   mortalis   ultra 
Fas  trepidat. 
Swinburne   reverses   it.     "Atalanta,"    353: 

"His   (man's)  speech  is  a  burning  fire; 
With  his  lips  he  travaileth ; 
In  his  heart  is  a  blind  desire. 

In  his  eyes  foreknonvledge  of  death." 
Note  17.     For  the  myth  of  Pandora  cf.  Hesiod,  O.  D.  94. 
Note  18.     Swinburne  imitates  the  passage  in  dialogue  be- 
tween Althaea   and  Meleager,  "Atalanta,"  460  if. : 
Al.  "What  god  applauds  new  things? 

Mel.    Zeus,  who  hath  fear  and  custom  under  foot. 
Al.    But  loves  not  laws  thrown  down  and  lives  awry. 
Mel.    Yet  is  not  less  himself  than  his  own  law, 
Al.     Nor  shifts  and  shufiles  old  things  up  and  down. 
Mel.     But  what  he  will  remolds  and  discreates."         Etc. 


OF  ^SCHYLUS  75 

Note  19.  Silence  is  golden.  Cf.  Swinburne,  **  Atalanta," 
1193  ff. 

"  But  ye,  keep  ye  on  earth 
Your  lips  from  over-speech. 
Loud  words  and  longing  are  so  little  worth; 
And  the  end  is  hard  to  reach. 
For  silence  after  grievous  things  is  good, 
And  reverence  and  the  fear  that  makes  men  whole, 
And  shame  and  righteous  governance  of  blood, 
And  lordship  of  the  soul. 

But  from  sharp  words  and  wits  men  pluck  no  fruit, 
And  gathering  thorns  they  shake  the  tree  at  root; 
For  words  divide  and  rend; 
But  silence  is  most  noble  to  the  end." 
Note  20.    Pindar,  in  the  first  Pythian  ode  describes  very 
vividly  the  same  eruption. 

Note  21.  Kovcpovovv:  Swinburne,  A  word  from  the  Psalm- 
ist: "A  light-souled  rabble."  "Atalanta,"  201  "I  speak  not 
as  one  light  of  luit." 

Note  22.     Cf.  Swinburne,  "  Erechtheus,"  13: 

'*  And  first  bow  down  the  bridled  strength  of  steeds 
To  lose  the  wild  wont  of  their  birth." 
Note  23.     Swinburne,    "Athens":    "And    bade    the    wave 
steeds  champ  the  rein." 

Vergil,  ^n.  i,  224:  Naves  velivolae 
Ovid:  Velivolae  rates. 

Swinburne,  "Athens":  "Gave  their  water-wandering 
chariot  seats  of  ocean  Wings," 

Note  24.     Prophecy  was  made  possible  by  means  of  dreams, 
voices,  omens,  birds,  sacrifice.    Aristophanes,   "Birds,"   720: 
"  And  all  things  ye  lay  to  the  charge  of  a  bird  that  belong 
to  discerning  prediction: 


76  THE  PROMETHEUS  BOUND 

Winged  fame  is  a  bird,  as  you  reckon;  you  sneeze,  and  the 

sign's  as  a  bird  for  conviction: 
All  tokens  are  *  birds '  with  you  —  sounds  too  and  lackeys 

and  donkeys.     Then  must  it  follow 
That  we   are   to   you    all    as   the   manifest   godhead   that 

speaks  in  prophetic  Apollo?" 
Swinburne,  Athens:    "Bared  the  darkling  scriptures  writ 

in  dazzling  letters 
Taught  the  truth  of  dreams  deceiving  men's  desire." 
Note  25.     Swinburne,   ''Athens": 
"  Showed  the  symbols  of  the  wild  bird's  wheeling  motion." 
Note  26.     Decima  unda,  decumanus  fluctus;  Sept.  760: 
"And  now  as  it  were  a  sea  of  troubles  is  bringing  on  a 
billow,    one   falling,    while    another   with   triple    crest   it   is 
raising,  a  wave  that  chafes  and  babbles  at  the  city's  stern." 
Plato  uses  the  same  metaphor  in  Republic,  V.     "  Perhaps 
you  do  not  know  that  after  I  have  barely  surmounted  the 
first  two  waves,  you  are  now  bringing  down  upon  me  the 
third  breaker,  which  is  the  most  mountainous  and  formidable 
of  the  three." 

Swinburne    treats    the   idea    sentimentally.     "  Triumph    of 
Time  " : 

"  It  is  not  much  that  a  man  can  save 
On  the  sands  of  life  in  the  straits  of  time. 
Who  swims  in  sight  of  the  great  third  wave 
That  never  a  swimmer  shall  cross  or  climb." 
Note  27.     Swinburne,  "Athens":     "He  may  smite  me  yet 
he  shall  not  do  to  death." 

Note  28.     Swinburne,  "A  Ballad  at  Parting":  "There  in 
thunder-throated  roar." 

Note  29.    The   drag-net   metaphor    is    rather   common    in 
Greek;  Cf.  Agamemnon  361;  1050;  11 15. 
Swinburne,  "On  the  Cliffs": 


OF  i^SCHYLUS  77 

"  Too  close  the  entangling  dragnet  woven  of  crime, 
The  snare  of  ill  new  born  of  elder  ill, 
The  curse  of  new  time  for  an  elder  time, 
Has  caught  and  held  her  yet. 
Enmeshed  intolerably  in  the  intolerant  net. 
Who  thought  with  craft  to  mock  the  God  most  high,"  etc. 


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